Monday, June 30, 2025

Unsearchable Things

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. ~ Jeremiah 33:3


Communication with God.  A direct invite from the Creator of the universe to call out to Him. He will answer us.  Call out to Him no matter the time and no matter the problem.  He wants to help His children.  Jeremiah spent most of his life warning Judah and Jerusaleum of the judgement that was to come and was finally imprisoned, but the Lord wanted to remind Jeremiah that He was still there for Him.  By seeking God and calling out to Him, God promised that He will answer.  We may not always get the answer we want, but God is always there ready to help.  We have to remember that His ways are higher than ours and He has so much to teach us if we would just ask and listen.  Jeremiah was told by God that He would restore the Israelites and God wants to do the same thing for us.  He is a God of restoration no matter what you are going through, or where you have been.  Genuinely put your faith and trust in Him, leave difficulties at His feet and call out to Him.  He will answer.  An answer may come that would not have been revealed if you didn’t call upon the Lord; an answer you would have never guessed, or imagined.  If you want to grow a deeper relationship with God, this invitation to call out to Him in prayer is a great place to start.  He will reveal to you things you could have only known by asking Him.  He will reveal to you your true identity – a child of the Most High.  Your soul and spirit will be enlightened.  Trust God in the midst of hard challenges and life’s difficulties by calling out to Him.  Praise Him in good times; call on Him in bad times and converse with Him in the meantime.  Just pray.  Be humble, be faithful, be sincere and wait for His guidance.  He will answer.  Let this verse fill you with hope and assurance that God wants to help.  Call out to Him. ~ Amen


Wise Understanding

Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ~ Jame 3:13


I like how James opens chapter 3 talking about the need for all of us to control our tongues and then asks, “who is wise and understanding among you?”  I don’t think that was by coincidence, but rather he was telling us that one way we could show our wisdom is by our actions and not our words.  Sometimes we need to be quiet and let our lives be our example.  Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”  Buying into the world’s wisdom that is mostly understood by senses, emotions, feelings and intellect is not necessarily bad, but if you put that wisdom before God’s you will be most likely disappointed.  Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”  So we cannot always follow our heart as the world would tell us to do.  Before we can be considered wise, we must fear the Lord.  Not fear Him as be scared of Him, but fear Him as meaning to have great reverence, or respect for Him.  To be in awe of Him.  We must put Him in His rightful place as the leader in our lives.  The headship.  By putting ourselves to the side, and humbly coming to Christ for His guidance we show wisdom.  Many people believe that wisdom comes from knowledge and intellect, but Godly wisdom comes from a humble heart that lives out the daily life in pursuit of God’s righteousness.  True wisdom has nothing to do with earthly knowledge, but everything to do with our relationship to God and how we live that out.  To lead a life of submission to God will produce a life of wisdom through humility and gentleness.  We will act and live our lives out according to the wisdom we follow; we will act worldly and for knowledge and ambition, or we will act in kindness, in goodness, in humility, in love for others and in Christ first.  The only way I know to get Godly wisdom is to seek God py prayer, studying His word, and living the way God has instructed us by putting Him first and humbling ourselves before Him.  The wisdom we want from Him will be a light to others by our good conduct and our humble attitude.  This is the good life. ~ Amen

Sunday, June 22, 2025

Stumbling Blocks

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.  If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. ~ Romans 14:13-15


To be a follower of Jesus means we are called to serve others and be mindful of what is good for them and to be considerate of their well being before our own.  Yes, you have been given grace to have a glass of wine with dinner, but who are you in company with?  If one of your table guests struggles with alcohol, you should put your right to a glass off to the side so that your friend does not stumble.  Our right to do something is not as important as our friend’s spiritual well-being, so put your right aside.  Most people are concerned about their own personal satisfaction and have a “me first” attitude, but as followers of Jesus, we are to put others first.  The world thinks of “me first” and we, the church, should be striving to be “we first” starting with the very family of Christ we are a part of and continuing out to our communities.  Most of us are self-absorbed (myself included), but how different our world would look if we put others before ourselves and genuinely helped people become better versions of themselves spiritually and walked humbly by their side.  I don’t ever want to be a stumbling block for someone else, so I must remember that just because something may be permissible for me, that does not mean it is for every believer, or even that it is beneficial.  The heart of a Jesus follower should always put others first no matter what the situation, or circumstance.  Be mindful of those around who are learning from you and help them grow without being a hindrance. ~ Amen


Saturday, June 21, 2025

Wait Patiently

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. ~ Romans 8:25


Sometimes waiting in anticipation of something to happen is part of the excitement; other times it can be excruciating.  Like waiting for two more days before you go on that vacation of a lifetime; waiting another week before the arrival of your first child; the anticipation of walking down the aisle to your prince charming.  The anticipation, the expectation, the forecast, or hope for all of these journeys and milestones is exciting.  As followers of Christ, we should have the same hope and excitement for our glorious eternity with Jesus and our new redeemed bodies.  Being made to wait for anything good is hard, but while we are on this side of eternity, God is still using us and blessing us to help others and build more of His character into our faith.  Most people struggle with waiting; after all, patience is a virtue, but in God’s view, waiting and perseverance almost always leads to significant growth.  We want to hurry up and get to the end goal of things, but Christ would have us cherish each step and take note of lessons learned along the way.  Hence one of the reasons you are still on this planet earth.  The path and purpose God placed you here for, specifically your calling, is yours alone and is not finished yet.  While we wait we should be producing a faith filled life full of good fruit for us to share and for others to enjoy.  Your mission here on earth and to mankind has not been fulfilled if you are still here.  God has bigger plans for you still; more for you to do and more for you to grow.  Be open to the waiting and be confident in what is to come.  Keep planting seeds of faith here for others to see.  Spread the good news.  Know that there is a purpose in the waiting and anticipation and learn to be glad in it.  I may not always understand, but I do believe He has perfect timing in everything He does; which means I will be in His glorious presence at the right time.  In the meantime, I will live my life the best I can to serve Him and wait with anticipation and hope. ~ Amen


Seek Good

Seek good, not evil, that you may live.  Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. ~ Amos 5:!4 God never leaves us...